Shane Beamer provides update on several injuries ahead of Week 2

South Carolina played a quality opponent in its season opener, taking on a tough North Carolina squad. The team left the game with several injuries to key players, including a season-ending one for edge defender Mo Kaba.

Coach Shane Beamer announced a list of other players that were on the injury report coming out of the game.

“It was a physical game last week,” Beamer said. “Would say that Markee Anderson is doubtful this week. I would say that Nick Emmanwori is doubtful this week. I would say that JT Geer is doubtful this week. I would say that David Spaulding is doubtful this week. Cason Henry is out this week. And everybody else practiced today and should be good to go.”

Beamer was later asked to clarify on several injuries, including Emmanwori and receiver Antwane Wells.

“I thought I said Emmanwori, I’m sorry if I didn’t,” Beamer said. “I would say Nick is probably doubtful. If you asked him he would probably say that he’s playing. He didn’t practice today so he would need to do something tomorrow for us in practice. We’ll see. We meet as a staff at 4 o’clock, I’ll have a better idea. But I would say right now Nick is doubtful.”

The receiver, Wells, should be good to go. Wells is one of the team’s most productive wideouts and has been for the past few years.

“Juice was good, I asked him early on in practice, ‘How you feeling, what’s your mindset this week?'” Beamer said. “He said, ‘I’m playing and don’t even try to limit me in practice today,’ is essentially what he said.”

Then Beamer continued discussing the last of several injuries.

“(Ahmarean Brown) got hit in the ribs a little bit but he practiced today and was fine,” the third-year South Carolina coach said. “I would say all of those guys that did not finish the game the other night or came out of the game for different reasons all of those guys should be fine. Nobody else missed practice today that I didn’t already mention.”

Mo Kaba lost for the season

The worst news coming out of the North Carolina game was the loss of edge defender Mo Kaba for the season. It marks his second straight season-ending injury after his 2022 campaign was cut short by a torn ACL.

“We obviously released the information about Mo Kaba, heart breaks for him,” Beamer said. “Somebody obviously a fantastic human being first and foremost. Fantastic player for us. Really hard deal when he tore his ACL last year against Arkansas and was tough for us obviously to deal with from an emotional standpoint. Kid worked his butt off throughout the offseason, spring practice, was practicing with great energy. And was truly loving being back out there, as you can imagine. Smile on his face every day at practice. Really hurt for him and wish him, not wish him well, but we’ll wrap our arms around him and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Beamer urged the South Carolina fans to do whatever they can to lift up Kaba in this trying time.

“I would ask everybody that’s affiliated with Gamecock Nation to please think about Mo, because this is tough on him and tough on our football team as well,” Beamer said.